We all know hockey has long been considered Canada’s national pastime, but when it comes to motorsports, snowmobiling is the “top dog” in these parts. It’s no surprise Ontario is the most active province in this regard and, depending on the region, riding a sled here could mean anything from a weekend activity at the cottage to a vital form of transportation. Despite only having one real certain riding season, the sport yielded some impressive stats last year:

118,657 snowmobiles were sold worldwide in 2017. Of that number, an entire 44,161 were sold right here in Canada.

There are currently over 600,000 registered snowmobiles in Canada—that’s close to 17% of the population!

In terms of economic impact, snowmobiling has on some of the larger markets around the globe; Canada injects $8-billion back into the economy, the US $26-billion, and Russia/ Europe around $5-billion. Considering the population of each, the Canucks make a strong case for the most die-hard snowmobilers around.

Now you know where to eat and sleep, and have some background on snowmobiling in Ontario, but the most important question remains: where’s the best place to actually ride? Within the 30,000 kilometres of trails mentioned earlier exist smaller “loops,” ranging from 200 to 700 kilometres. They’re scattered throughout the province, but the best ones are in Northern Ontario. They offer a variety of conditions from hilly to twisty, long and fast stretches. All of these loops are carefully maintained and groomed by local clubs with the support of the OFSC.

Another perk of riding in Ontario is a strong machine rental market. This means if you don’t currently own a snowmobile there are outfits that will set you up with a machine, gear, and even a guide to help you navigate your time on the trails. These shops also act as a service outlet for those who do own sleds and are looking for some spare parts or last-minute service between rides. For a thorough list of shops click here.

A day on the trails on a brand new Arctic Cat thanks to Carlson Sports in North Bay, Ontario

The hard numbers support it; the trail network is second to none; accommodations and restaurants are abundant (and good). There are a couple of hundred snowmobile clubs, rental and service markets, and an interactive trail map literally at your fingertips! Whether you head to the trails of Northern Ontario because I think it's top-notch, or you go because you've seen the proof that this is the truth—the important part is: go. Eight years into riding the trails, I’m as excited to get out there as I was the first time. Whoever made hockey Canada's official winter sport probably hadn't been snowmobiling in Ontario.